'Shameful; You Want Temples To Come Begging To You For Dues?': Allahabad High Court Raps UP Govt Over Unpaid Annuity

The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday orally remarked that it was shameful that a temple has to approach the Court to get its dues (annuity) released from the UP government. The Court also questioned the State counsel if the government wanted the temples to come begging it for the release of dues.

"Under section 99 of the UP Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, the annuity is to be paid by the government to the temples. Once you know the fact that this is the amount, why don't you directly transfer the amount to the temple? Do you want the temple to come begging to you?," a bench of Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal orally remarked.

The observation was made by the Single Judge while dealing with a petition filed by Thakur Rangji Maharaj Virajman Mandir in Vrindavan seeking the release of annuity under Section 99 of UP Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act from the District Magistrate of Mathura and its Senior Treasury Officer. 

On the last day of the hearing in the matter, the Court remarked that it was pained that temples and trusts have to knock on the doors of the Court to get their dues released from the State Government.

The single judge had also summoned the Commissioner/Secretary, Board of Revenue, Uttar Pradesh in the Court to explain why the annuity of the Thakur Rangji Maharaj Virajman Mandir, Vrindavan and 8 other temples in Vrindavan has been withheld for the last four years.

Pursuant to Court's order, appearing before the Court on Wednesday, when the Commissioner/Secretary, Board of Revenue, Uttar Pradesh sought to argue that no demand was raised from Mathura and since no demand was there, the state could not release the annuity, the Court took a strong stand in the matter and made the following observation:

"You are passing on the buck to the DM that he didn't raise the demand. How aarti and bhog puja will take place if funds are not with the temple for the past 4 years? When the government pays you a salary on the 1st (of every month) then why don't the temples get their dues on the first day of the month?"

The Court further added that the Government must pay dues to the Temples as per the UPZALR Act.

"You are not a Raja-Maharaja but a government servant and you should behave like that only. This is the money of tax[ayers and not yours that you are sitting on it like a maharaja," the Court said.

The Court also termed it as 'shameful' that such a case had to come to the Court.  

"We want an affidavit from the state that the dues have been cleared. It is Taxpayers' money and it can go anywhere... Temple, gurudwara, church...shameful that in your government's rule, a temple has to approach the court for getting their dues," the Court further remarked.

Consequently, the Court called for an affidavit from the UP Government regarding the payment of dues to the temple. A detailed order of the Court is expected by this evening.